Annapolis mayor's campaign kicks off with door knocking

Mayor Mike Pantelides has not officially kicked off his re-election campaign but that hasn't stopped the incumbent mayor from campaigning.

Pantelides is holding a door-knocking event from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 4 at 35 Market Space, essentially next to Market House. The event is publicized on the Maryland Republican Party's website as well, although it has the address listed as 25 Market Space.

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Republican party officials said their role in the event is helping volunteers find the location and event.

While Pantelides has not publicly talked about the specifics of his upcoming re-election campaign, he has not been shy about his intentions to run.

His campaign website has a event listed for Thursday, March 23, as his official campaign kick-off event. He is holding "A One on One with the Mayor" event on Thursday, March 2 at 221 Duke of Gloucester Street at the Hillman, Brown and Darrow law office.

Buckley is an Annapolis business owner and public arts supporter who threw his Democratic hat into the ring. Buckley doesn't have any political experience but hopes his position as an outsider boosts his campaign.

Astle is a long-time politician who has served decades in the Maryland House of Delegates and Senate. Astle has not officially filed but has pledged to kick off his campaign later this year.

Buckley and Astle are currently the only two Democratic challengers. The filing deadline for candidates is July 31.

While the candidates formulate their positions, key issues have come into focus.

Crime will play a large role in the campaign after Annapolis has had 12 homicides in 12 months, with a record-high 10 in 2016. These numbers, along with some other factors, lead the mayor to fire former Annapolis police chief Michael Pristoop. The police department had just been given an additional $1.25 million to deal with the increased homicides and other issues, but Pantelides wasn't pleased with the results.

Crystal Spring will likely come up as well. The project, now called The Village at Providence Point, has changed since Pantelides pledged to reduce the scope of the development.

National Lutheran Communities and Services has separated itself from the original Crystal Spring and are trying to get more than 400 age-restricted residential and health care units built on the property. While still a big development, it is smaller than the initial mixed-use property that featured a hotel, retail and other buildings.